“I knew that the women who got most out of life (and out of men) were the ones who demanded most, that if you acted as if you were valuable and desirable, men found you valuable and desirable, that if you refused to be a doormat, nobody could tread on you.” Pg. 173
Remind you of anything? Well, it certainly made me think of Marilyn Monroe’s infamous quote, “if you can’t handle me at my worst you sure as hell don’t deserve me at my best.” Marilyn Monroe is arguably the most prominent icon of female power and seductive dominance, qualities that Isadora wishes she possessed. Isadora is essentially incapable of asking for what she needs like Marylin. She cannot act at her worst for fear of losing a man that she wants when she is at her best. Interestingly, Isadora eventually finds some of this female power by the end. She demands more of Bennett, and the reader is left hoping that their relationship will change and continue on an even playing field.
Isadora uses the word demanding here. She does not need to ask for respect, she needs to demand it. In some ways, Isadora represents every woman in society. She essentially shows that women need to demand attention, instead of feebly asking for it.
One part in this quotation that I would like to illuminate is the idea that Isadora feels like men tread on her. At this point in the book, she does not want to be strong for herself, but rather for the benefit of her relationships with men. She still identifies herself in relation to men. And this identity crisis continues throughout the novel. Eventually, Isadora realizes that she needs to be confident for her own personal reasons rather than for men, and this is ultimately what liberates her. But, until Isadora realizes that she needs to love herself, respect herself, and treat herself well, before others will, she remains “tread” on.
I find it very interesting that you believe that Isadora wants to have "female power and seductive dominance." While reading, I found that for most of the novel, Isadora does not want either of those even though she already possesses them. In the end, she comes to terms with her strong personality and that is why she can return to Bennett. I think that a lot of times we see Isadora scold herself for being so sexual and demanding because it doesn't fit with her definition of what a woman is. It is only when she embraces her strength and desires that she becomes a strong character on her own.
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree with your idea that Isadora seeks liberation throughout the novel and feels that she "needs to be confident for her own personal reasons rather than for men." And, I see where you're coming from with your reference to Marilyn as an embodiment of the qualities that Isadora wishes she possessed.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I think that Isadora seeks, above all, to be liberated from men and to not have to resort to "seductive dominance" to get what she wants. In the beginning of the novel, she explicitly says that she is tired of being an instrument of pure sexuality; she no longer wants her persuasive powers to come from her seductiveness. In this sense, I think that Christina's slight adjustment of your argument is spot on. Isadora's search for self-confidence stems from her desire not to have power over men, but to define herself apart from them.